Process of and apparatus for shaping metal strips being held under tension



\ F. C. ROXY PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING METAL May 3, 1960 STRIPS BEING HELD UNDER TENSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1957 FINE mi fob uw,

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May 3, 1960 F. c. RoxY 2,935,1 10

PROCESS OF' AND APPARATUS 2F' OR SHAPING METAL STRIPS BEING HELD UNDER TENSION Filed Jan. 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

FPA/wv .12l Roxy 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. C. ROXY PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING METAL .STRIPS BEING HELD UNDER TENSION May 3, 1960 Filed Jan. 24, 1957 May 3, 1960 2,935,110'

F. C. ROXY PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING` METAL STRIPS BEING HELD UNDER TENSION 'i 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jam. 24, 1957 @Melina/ lMay 3, 1960 F. c. RoxY y PRocEss oF AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPING METAL STRIPS BEING HELD UNDER TENSION 5 Sheets-sheet 5 Filed Jan. 24, 1957 INVENTOR.

FFH/YK C. FOX),

@wdr/m 5' PW Unite ts PROCESS F AND APPARATUS FR SHAPING METAL STRIPS BEENG HELD UNDER TENSION This invention relates to an improved process of and apparatus for progressively shaping a strip of material such as a strip of metal to a deformed strip shape.

An object is to provide such a process and apparatus adapted to shape a at strip of steel or other suitable material into a strip shape of an entirely different cross sectional design. The cross sectional design of the shaped strip will depend upon the character of dies employed in the machine in the carrying out of the process, and may be varied greatly as desired.

An object of the invention is to provide a process and apparatus which is capable of carrying out the progressive shape of a strip of metal in such a manner as not to impart any stresses to the strip which would produce twisting or corkscrewing of the deformed strips.

One of the disadvantages of shaping a strip of ilat metal into determined cross sectional shapes differing widely from the flat shape is that after the strip has been shaped between die rollers, it is necessary to straighten the strip. If it is not straightened, it tends to twist or corkscrew due to stresses that have been imparted to it during its shaping. An important feature of this process and apparatus is that the die shaping is so carried out that the strip does not exhibitthis tendency to twist or turn because it is free from the internal stresses that produce such twisting or turning.

Another object is the provision of a process and apparatus which will shape the strip as hereinabove described in such a manner that the strip may be cut into sections after it has been shaped and each of these sections will retain its straight cutoff length without any tendency to twistor turn.

Another object is the provision of an improved machine adapted to support a length of strip material in a linearly tensioned state for progressive shaping and which machine is provided with die shaping means supported to be passed over said tensioned length of strip and shape the same as it passes thereover.

A meritorious feature of the machine is that it includes means adapted to constantly maintain tension on the supported length of stripwhile the same is being shaped. This tensioning means is of such a character that the amount of tension may be varied as desired and it may be set to maintain such tension constantly on the strip regardless of variations invlength of the supported sectional strip dueto the shaping operation. l

Another object is the provision of an improved method and apparatus which is relatively inexpensive and which is readily adapted to receive shaping dies of widely varying design so as to shape strips to different cross sectional contours.

Other objects, advantages, and important features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:

n 2,935,110 Eatented May 3, 1960 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one end of the machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the opposite end of the machine shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one succession of shaping dies adapted to be juxtaposed into an assembly as shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the die carriage illustrated in Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-'7 of Fig. 6 and showing a fragment of the frame of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section through the upper portion of the shiftable strip engaging device shown atthe-l left end of the machine of Fig. l; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the hydraulic circuit mechanism provided to maintain tension on the supported length of strip. l

The machine of this application is designed to engage a length of strip material such as a length of stainless steel and support such length tensioned taut between the two points of support. Such length of strip may be withdrawn from a roll of the lat form of the strip. The supported tensioned length of strip is then acted upon by progressive shaping dies to shape the same to the de sired contour. The construction and operation is such that tension is maintained at all times on the supported length of strip during the shaping operation. The means employed is such that, though the shape of the dies may vary from one situation to another, the strip being shaped is always maintained taut. mally develop in the conventional shaping of a strip and which commonly produce a twisting of the formed length of the strip are counteracted and the shaped length of strip retains the straight, extended shape thatit would normally exhibit as a flat, unshaped strip. After such a formed length has been shaped, it may be cut off and another length withdrawn and shaped and these operations may be successively, rapidly, and inexpensively carried out.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a machine adapted to carry out my improved process and embodies the necessary apparatus. It comprises a framework having upright legs 20 supporting longitudinal I-beam frame sections 22 which, in turn, carry a bed plate 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Mounted upon this bed`plate is a linearly extending guide or way element 26 directly supported upon a pair of upright linear elements 2S. Upon this way is supported for slidable movement thereover a die carriage shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and indicated at Figs. l and 2 by the numeral 30.

The die carriage may be box-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 7 and comprises a base 32 which rests directly slidably upon the way 26. There is a top portion 34 and side members 36 all as shown in Fig. 7. Brackets 33 may be provided which are suitably secured to the base 32 and have plates 40 extending underneath the way 26 along opposite edges, as shown in Fig. 7, to maintain the die carriage upon the way for linear slidable movement thereover. The sides of this die carriage are open between its ends as shown in Fig. l, the side members 36 being provided only at the ends thereof. The top 34 of the die carriage is also cut away asV at 42 as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The die carriage is supported upon the way 26 to be reciprocally moved thereover.

To one end of the die carriage, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 6, there are attached two sprocket chains 44. These chains are attached to opposite sides of the die carriage asl shown in Fig. 2. The chains may be of the character shown more in detail in Fig. 6. The chains extend over Internal stresses which nor- 3 y sprockets 46 mounted onl a shaft 4S as at the right end of the view in Figs. 1 and 2. They then extend underneath the bed of the machine to its opposite end and pass over sprockets 50 mounted upon a rotatable shaft 52 at the left end of the machine shown in Figs. l and 2. The chains are then connected with the opposite end of the carriage as at S4 in Figs. 1 and 6.

The carriage is adapted to be actuated by these chains upon rotation of the shaft 48 as now described. This shaft 48 is provided with two sprockets S6 in addition to sprockets 46. A drive sprocket chain 58 extends over earch sprocket 56 and over. a drive sprocket 60 of a speed reduction gearing mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 62. This speed reduction gearing mechanism, which may be of any suitable character, is provided with a driving sprocket or pulley 64 over which passes a drive chain 66 which is driven from a motor 68 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The motor is shown as having a drive shaft upon which is mounted a driven member 70 over which the drive chain 66 passes. This motor itself is mounted upon a base 72 supported from the machine as shown in Fig. 1. The motor is reversible so that the chains may be driven first in one direction and then in the other to move the carriage as desired over the way. At the same end of the machine which is provided with the driving motor 68 there is a strip hold-down device identified generally by the numeral 74 mounted upon a bracket 76 which is supported upon the bed of the machine. This hold-down device may comprise an upper hold-down plate 73, a lower hold-down plate 75 and two threaded tightening studs 71 which extend through said plates and secure them together. j

A reel adapted to support a roll of suitable strip material to be shaped can be mounted adjacen-t to 'this same end of the machine and strip material indicated generally as 78 can be unwound therefrom. A length of such material may be unwound and withdrawn for the length of the machine and the hold-down device 74 tightened down to grip such strip and the opposite end of the strip may be gripped by another hold-down device at the opposite end of the machine as hereinafter described. The strip holddown means at the opposite end of the machine is shown as comprising a base plate 80 supported by the upper ends of four swingable arms 82 and shown particularly in Figsl, 2, 3, and 8. These arms are supported at their opposite ends as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 upon a frame 84 by being pivoted thereto as at 86.

The strip gripping means itself is illustrated in Fig. b as comprising a pair of clamping elements 88 held together by the screw 90. Tightening of this screw 90 brings the clamping elements together and grips the end of the strip `7S therebetween, as shown in Fig. 8. These clamping blocks 88 are contoured so that when they are clamped together, they can be actuated as a unit by a manually operable screw 92 shown in Fig. 8. The screw 92 extends through an upturned end portion 94 of the plate 80 and is provided with a manually operable handle and nut 96. The screw may be adjusted to manually adjust the position of the clamping blocks upon the base plate 80 and exert tension on the strip 7S.

This entire strip holding mechanism supported upon the upper ends of the swingable links 82 is responsive to uid pressure tensioning mechanism of hydraulic piston and cylinder type. The base plate 80 which supports the clamping blocks 88 is secured to the shafts 81 which extend between swinging links 82 in any suitable manner. There is a cylinder 98 swingably supported at 100 upon a part of the frame of the machine. This cylinder is provided with a piston rod 102 journaled at its outer end as at 104 upon supporting means 106 extending between two ofk the arms 82 and including shaft 108 which pivotally supports the end ofthe piston rod 102.

This fluid pressure tensioning system is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. as including a pump 110 driven by a motor' 112. The pump has an intake 114 communieating with a reservoir 116. The pump communicates with the closed end of the cylinder 98 by means of a conduit 118 through a valve 120 and communicates with the opposite end of the cylinder by means of a conduit 122 which likewise is controlled by the valve 120. This valve 120 is shown in Fig. 1 as having a handle 124. Fig. 9 shows the movable valve element 126 moved so as to deliver Huid to the free end of the cylinder as there illustrated. It is apparent that it might be moved to a position to deliver uid to the closed end of the cylinder when such is desired. There is a variable pressure control device 128 disposed in the uid pressure line as shown in Fig. 9 and such is employed to regulate the amount of pressure which the piston brings to bear upon the rod 102 so that arms 82 urge the strip holddown and 88 to maintain tension at all times on the length of strip being supported between the two holddown elements 74 and 88.

The die carriage is adapted to receive a plurality of die blocks or shaping dies of such number and shape as may be desired. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate six separate shaping dies indicated by the numerals 130, 132, 134,

Y 136, 138, and 140. Each shaping die is shown as comprising a plate 142 provided at opposite ends with spacer blocks 144. Such plate may be conveniently formed in upper and lower sections to facilitate shaping the die cutout therein. In Fig. 5 the six shaping dies are shown as progressively shaped so that a at strip may be progressively deformed from the slight arc exhibited by shaping die 130 to"the form illustrated in shaping die 140.

These several shaping dies are adapted to be loosely received within the carriage 30 and as shown in Fig. 7. There is a slight clearance at both ends and at the top of each shaping die so that individual shaping dies may. have a limited freedom of adjustment relative to each other within the carriage. This freedom of movement is in order that the separate successive dies may follow the tensioned line of the strip without pulling the strip laterally from such line as the assembly-of dies is moved over the strip in the shaping of the strip. inasmuch as the die carriage is moved in the direction of theparrow shown in Fig. 1 in the embodiment there illustrated, the successive shaping dies are drawn to the left-hand end of the carriage as the carriage itself is drawn over the way 26 in the shaping of the strip. While the individual dies have freedom 'of adjustment relative to each other, they are closely packed together but do exhibit a small space between successive dies. It is seen that the space within the carriage is suicient to accommodate many more shaping dies if such were required and the number of dies and the variation in the die apertures of the several dies depends upon the contour to be given the strip and the character of the material that is being worked.

To institute the shaping operation, an end of a strip '78 is withdrawn from a roll and passed through the holding device 74 which is` kept loose until the required length of strip has been withdrawn. The end of the strip is tapered with a long taper which permits such tapered end to be readily threaded through the several shaping dies 13G-140. This taperedend of the strip is then secured between the hold-down blocks`88`andV the screw tightened to hold these blocks together. The manual adjustment 96 is then operated to tension the length of strip between the hold-down devices.

The uid pressure tensioning mechanism is then put into operation with the pump v set to create pressure in the closed end of the cylinder 108 urging the piston rod 102 outwardly. This piston rod 102 acts upon the arms 82 tending to swing the arms to urge the plate 80 and the gripping elements 88 to maintain a yielding tension upon the strip linearly thereof. The extent of the tension is regulated by the variable pressure device 128. What is necessary is that the strip be maintained tensioned at all times during its deformation. During the shaping of the strip itslength willbe extended and no slack must be permitted to develop in the strip during its shaping.' It has been found that if slack is permitted to develop, the formed strip will possess interior stresses that will cause it to twist when the -formed length has been cut olf.

At the beginning of the movement'the die carriage is at the left-hand end of its way. When the strip has been tensioned to the desired degree, the electric motor 62 is operated to drive the chains 44 to draw the carriage toward the right-hand end of the machine causing the shaping dies to pass over the strip and impart to it the desired contour. This motor 62 is controlled by a switch 146. This switch is provided with a control rod 148 which is supported as shown in Fig. 1 to extend lengthwise of the bed of the machine so that an operator may grasp it at any position along the length of the machine. The rod is capable of being rotated in its supports 150 from an off position to an on position of the switch and also to a position to drive the motor 62 to move the carriage in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1 or toV move the carriage in the reverse direction. The motor s also provided with a brake which is adapted to be automatically thrown on to stop the advance of the carriage when the switch is thrown off. This is conventional structure and is not specifically illustrated.

In the operation of the mechanism it may be necessary to determine the amount of tension that should be placed upon the strip by the trial shaping of a length of the strip because the required tension varies with different kinds of material as well as with the contour that is to be given to the strip. This can be determined by the operator so that the strip will be maintained taut at all times during the shaping operation. When a length of strip has been shaped, it will be cut oi spaced somewhat from the left end of the carriage and the carriage will then be returned from the rightend to the left end of the machine and the severed end of the strip secured to the hold-down blocks 88 and a second length of strip will then be shaped.

What I claim is:

l. That process of shaping a deformable metal strip comprising, in combination, gripping in a holding device a. length of a substantially at metal strip spaced from an end thereof providing an end length of strip beyond said gripping device, threading the end of said length of strip through a progressive series of die openings in a linear succession of spaced die plates grouped together in an assembly, gripping in a second holding device the end of said length of strip after such end has been threaded through said assembly of die plates, moving one of said holding devices away from the other holding device tensioning the length of the strip therebetween, advancing said assembly of die plates over the tensioned length of strip progressively deforming said length of strip and maintaining a yielding predetermined tension on said length of strip during the advancement of the assembly of die plates thereover.

2. That process of shaping a deformable metal strip comprising, in combination, gripping in a holding device a length of a substantially iiat metal strip spaced from an end thereof providing an end length of strip beyond said gripping device, threading the end of said length of strip through a progressive series of die openings in a linear succession of spaced die plates grouped together in an assembly, gripping in a second holding device the end of said length of strip after such end has been threaded through said assembly of die plates, moving one of said holding devices away from the other holding device tensioning the length of the strip therebetween, advancing said assembly of die plates over the tensioned length of strip progressively deforming said length of strip and maintaining a yielding predetermined tension on said length of strip during the advancement of the assembly of die plates thereover and supporting the individual die plates in a linearly spaced-apart succession in said assembly of plates and supporting them for individual floating movement in angularly disposed directions relative to each other in said assembly during the movement of the assembly of platesover the tensioned length of strip.

3. Apparatus for progressively shaping a deformable metal strip comprising, in combination, a frame, a metal strip gripping device supported upon one end of the frame, a second metal strip gripping device supported upon the opposite end of the frame, a die plate carriage supporting way mounted upon the frame and extending between the two strip gripping devices, a die plate supporting carriage mounted upon said way for guided reciprocation thereover between the two strip gripping devices, a series of die plates provided with a progressive series of die openings one in each plate mounted upon the carriage in a linear spaced succession of plates, said plates having limited individual freedom of movement within the carriage relative to each other and laterally of the line of advance of said carriage, power means mounted upon the frame coupled with one of said strip gripping devices to shift the same relative to the other strip gripping device to maintain a yielding predetermined tension upon the strip extending between and gripped by said devices, means for varying the tension placed on the strip extending between and gripped by said devices, and means coupled with the die plate supporting carriage operable to reciprocate the same over the carriage supporting way.

4. Apparatus for progressively shaping a deformable metal strip comprising, in combination, a frame, a metal strip gripping device supported upon one end of the frame, a second metal strip gripping device supported upon the opposite end of the frame, a die plate carriage supporting way mounted upon the frame and extending.

between said strip gripping devices, a die plate supporting carriage mounted upon said way for guided reciprocation thereover between the two strip gripping devices, a series of die plates provided with a progressive series of die openings one in each plate mounted upon the carriage in a linear spaced succession of plates, said plates having limited individual freedom of movement within the carriage relative to each other and laterally of the line of advance of said carriage, said plates so mounted upon the carriage that individual plates have limited freedom of movement relative to adjacent plates and in angular directions laterally of the line of advance of the carriage, one of said strip gripping devices mounted upon a base itself mounted upon pivotally supported lever mechanism aligned generally with the line of advance of the carriage, said lever mechanism swingable to move the base and its strip gripping device toward or away from the other strip gripping device, said strip gripping device mounted upon the base being shiftable thereupon to adjusted positions toward and away from the other strip gripping device to tension a strip gripped by and extending between said two devices, power means coupled with the swingably supported lever mechanism to swing the same to move said base and the strip gripping device carried thereby relative to the other strip gripping device to impose and maintain a yielding predetermined tension on the strip extending between and gripped by said two gripping devices, control mechanism for said power means operable to vary the tension placed on the strip extending between said gripping devices, and power means coupled with the die plate supporting carriage operable to reciprocate the carriage over the carriage supporting way between said two gripping devices.

(References on following page) 7 Rerflfens Cited 1n the le of this patent 8 McFadden Nov. 2,1, 1939 Cirns".';`; ;1.;l. Aug. 5, 1941 Maize July 19, 1949 81111111 Apr. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Gregi; Britain July 25, 1918 frvcgi B11131111 July 19, 1939 

